Convertible Pocket Folder

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a convertible pocket folder for securing and transporting standard 8½×11 documents and legal 8½×14 documents. The present invention comprises a single sheet of material having a top section and flap sections which are folded upwardly to form pockets for securing and transporting documents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a convertible pocket folder. More specifically, this invention relates to a folder which may be conveniently converted to accommodate both standard and legal size documents.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Folders arc well-known in the art and are widely used for securing and transporting documents. Pocket folders arc equipped with compartments to receive and secure documents. Quite often, users arc required to have different size folders, with different size compartments to accommodate different size documents. For example, users must purchase and employ a standard size pocket folder to accommodate standard 8½×11 size documents. For larger legal size documents, users are required to purchase legal size pocket folders to accommodate the larger 8½×14 size documents. It is desirable to have a single folder that can accommodate both standard and legal size documents. The present invention relates to a convertible pocket folder which can be used to secure and transport both standard and legal size documents. The folder may be converted to accommodate either standard 8½×11 documents, or legal 8½×14 documents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a convertible pocket folder for use in securing and transporting standard 8½×11 size documents and 8½×14 legal documents. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a convertible pocket folder is provided, comprising a single sheet of material including a top section and two flap sections. The top section having a top edge, a bottom fold line. a middle fold line. and a first and second edge. The top section further includes a plurality of fastener means securely attached to the first and second edge of the top section. In an alternative embodiment of the claimed invention, the top section further comprises tabs which extend from the first and second edges and are further equipped with a plurality of fastener means.

Both flap sections include a top edge that is coterminous with the bottom fold line of the top section. with the first flap having a first edge that extends along the same longitudinal axis of the first edge of the top section. a flap fold line, and a second edge. The second flap similarly includes a first edge, a flap fold line, and a second edge that extends along the same longitudinal axis of the second edge of the top section. The flaps further comprise a plurality of fastener means that are arranged to engage and cooperate with the fastener means of the top section. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the flaps further comprise a bottom edge.

In operation, the tabs are folded inwardly and the flaps are folded upwardly along either the bottom fold line or the flap fold line in order to form a pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plain view of the convertible pocket folder with the flaps extended.

FIG. 2 is a plain view of an alternative embodiment of the convertible pocket folder with the flaps extended.

FIG. 3 is a plain view of the convertible pocket folder.

FIG. 4 is a plain view of an alternate embodiment of the convertible pocket folder.

DRAWINGS Reference Numerals

5 Convertible Pocket Folder

10 Top Section

12 Top Edge

14 First Edge

16 Second Edge

18 Middle Fold Line

20 Bottom Fold Line

22 Fastener Means

24 First Tab

26 Second Tab

28 First Flap

30 Second Flap

32 Flap Top Edge

34 First Flap First Edge

36 Flap Fold Line

40 Flap Bottom Edge

50 Second Flap Second Edge

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the claimed invention is shown. The convertible pocket folder 5 is designed to contain standard documents and can be easily converted to expand to accommodate legal size documents. The convertible pocket folder 5 can be seen to he formed by a single sheet of material. The material is preferably of heavy paper, such as 130 pound stock.

However, the material may he of any other suitable form, such as plastic, etc. The single sheet is formed into a top section 10 and flaps 28, 32. The top section 10 has a top edge 12. a first edge 14, a second edge 16, a middle fold line 18, and a bottom fold line 20. The first and second edges 14,16 further comprise a plurality of fastener means 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the fastener means 22 arc shown as snaps. However, other suitable fastener means, such as Velcro strips for example. may be used. In an alternative embodiment of the claimed invention, the top section 10 further comprises tabs 24,26 extending from the first and second edges 14,16. The tabs 24,26 are equipped with a plurality of fastener means 22.

Referring now to FIG. 1, both flap sections 28,30 include a top edge 32 that is coterminous with the bottom fold line 20 of the top section 10, with the first flap having a first edge 34 that extends along the same longitudinal axis of the first edge 14 of the top section 10, a fold line 36, and a second edge 38. The second flap 30 includes a first edge 44, a fold line 36, and a second edge 50 that extends along the same longitudinal axis of the second edge 16 of the top section 10. The flaps 28, 30 further comprise a plurality of fastener means 22 that are arranged in such a manner to engage and cooperate with the fastener means of the to section 10. Referring now to FIG. 2, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the flaps 28, 30 further comprise a bottom edge 40.

The convertible pocket folder can be assembled and converted by folding inwardly the tabs 24,26 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The flaps 28, 30 are then folded upwardly either along the bottom fold line 20 of the top portion 10 to form a pocket to accommodate standard size documents, or along the flap fold lines 36 to form a pocket to accommodate legal size documents. While folded, the fastener means 22 of the top section 10 and the flaps 28,30 are allowed to cooperate and engage. Documents may then be inserted into the resulting pocket, and the convertible pocket folder 5 can be folded along the middle fold line 18 to further close and secure the convertible pocket folder 5.

The present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and described in the forgoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the 

I claim:
 1. A convertible pocket folder comprising: a. A sheet of material formed into a top section having a top edge, a first edge, a middle fold line, a bottom fold line, and a second edge; b. A plurality of fastener means arranged along the first edge and second edge of said top section; and c. A plurality of flaps having a top edge coterminous with the bottom fold line of said top section, a flap fold line, and a plurality of fastener means arranged to cooperate with the plurality of fastener means of said top section.
 2. The convertible pocket folder of claim 1, wherein said fastener means are snaps.
 3. The convertible pocket folder of claim 1, wherein said fastener means are Velcro strips.
 4. A convertible pocket folder comprising: a. A sheet of material formed into a top section having a top edge, a first edge, a middle fold line, a bottom fold line, and a second edge; b. A plurality of fastener means arranged along the first edge and second edge of said top section; and c. At plurality of flaps having a top edge coterminous with the bottom fold line of said top section, a flap fold line, a bottom edge, and a plurality of fastener means arranged to cooperate with the plurality of fastener means of said top section.
 5. The convertible pocket folder of claim 4, wherein said fastener means are snaps.
 6. The convertible pocket folder of claim 4, wherein said fastener means are Velcro strips.
 7. A convertible pocket folder comprising: a. A sheet of material formed into a top section having a top edge, a first edge, a middle fold line, a bottom fold line, and a second edge; b. Tabs that extend from said first edge and said second edge; c. A plurality of fastener means arranged along said tabs; and d. A plurality of flaps having a top edge coterminous with the bottom fold line of said top section, a fold line, and a plurality of fastener means arranged to cooperate with the plurality of fastener means of said tabs.
 8. The convertible pocket folder of claim 7, wherein said fastener means are snaps.
 9. The convertible pocket folder of claim 7, wherein said fastener means are Velcro strips.
 10. The convertible pocket folder of claim 7, wherein said flaps further comprise of bottom edge.
 11. The convertible pocket folder of claim
 10. wherein said fastener means are snaps.
 12. The convertible pocket folder of claim 10, wherein said fastener means are Velcro strips. 